New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-29
A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
BY HENRY 8, BROOKS.


Va o.nHemen Of England lire at home at ease,
Lote tinis do We understand the dangers Of the seas
In the summer of Is-- was managing an extensive
silver mine on tho peninsula of Lower California.
Mexico. 1t II was productive pro- city had passeu
Che first phases OF trial AID trouble incident TO OH suon
enterprises; had got mine -more, seserai sooa
mines had outgrowD the first mill OF ten stamps n
required larger one of twcntyfodr. There had oeen
no change in the management. Everything was
conducted before, that Instructions were eeu
to tear down the old batteries. and replace tDcm
with twenty -four stamps, with corresponding eh'arSe
ments in the ANAL amating department-reVeroerar
tory furnaces etc. etc In fulfllment OF THIS pan'
had visited San Francisco, ordered the necessary
machinery, together vito ample supplies to restook
the store tenda do Ralla" belonging to the com
pany, and had prepared to ship them on the steamer
John l.. Stephens, which at that time made monthly
trips from San Francisco 90 the Mexican gulf ports
As is not uncommon IN undertakings OF the KIND, the
capital supplied was not sufficient for tho purpose
There had teen the closest sort OF h2uring Oh Tue
part OF the directory, anu TIE manager was gwen
understand that he must complete the work w'nih
certain limits of expenditure.
The first of the series of accidents about to mar
rated was the seizure of the John L. Stephens at cape
St Lucas, by Colonel Dana and his party, upon the
claim that she was contraband OF war. ihs vas 'nt
period of the Empire" the nigh noon OF Maxi
mian's short-lived sway. All the guilt ports, except
on the peninsula were in possession OF the french
The Liberals CT Juarists defeated in the INFERIOR
were generally camped the heights overlooking .ne
principal seaports, and were keeping up an annoying
but Intellectual semtgueria warfare. wa,
claimed that the John L. Stephens carried arms anu
munitions of var for the imperial party and Colonel
Dana an American, holding commission UNDER inc
Liberals surprised the steamer at the cape, as men
toned and took possession OF her. Captain wake
man. well known IN California and the East, was IN
command. 1t the seizure had not been aumrapy
managed 1t Is not probable Dana could have surprised
SO slrewd and resolute an officer as Wakeman OUT
Cape ST. Lucas at that time afforded many facih'es
for an adventure of that kind. Danas men got on
deck unnoticed among tho traders and passengers
who always board the steamer at the cape. "nh
their arms concealed under their serapes eacn tooA
his appointed station, ald at given signal, revolver
In hand, surprised the officers and crew. N"p'ann
Wakeman greatly blamed by the owners ior 'ne
loss Of his ship, for the terms upon whcn nc
ransoued her; and was cashiered IN CONSCIOUSNESS
But great injustice was done him. Under the clicnm
stances, he could not have helped himself Every
thing considered, he came of remarkably WELL "A.
least that was the conviction of those best qualied
to form an opinion the subject.
Ga account of this misadventure, the John l..
Stephens was withdrawn from the Mexican TRADE,
end the scare great among all parties that IL
almost impossible to charter vessel IN winch 10
ship machinery and supplies. AT length, park
was obtained on very onerous terms. she had 10 oe
overhauled and repaired to fit her for sea- Leaving
all this in competent hands, returned to the mne
Ian ding at the cape from of the ships of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, and reached the mine by
an overland journey of hundred and forty miles.
1t did no: take very long to tear down the old mill
That accomplished the new foundations laid, anu
everything done that could be done toward preparing
for the new works, found myself with large force
OF expensive mechanics on hand anxiously awaiting
the arrival Of machinery and supplies TWO months
overdue. Teams, pack-trains. transfers were all
ready to transport the material without moments
delay But day after day, week after week passed.
nd a al he m melting
There was DO incom,, the old mill being torn out
1t had been thought advisable to stop the mines
altogether Tor a twentytour stamp mill Is hungry
monster, aud II was only common prudence 10 make
use OF the opportunity to accumulate reserve OF ore
Contracts were out, also Tor wood, SALT supplies,
freight etc, etc. The contractors were principally
Mexcans necessarily and they, becoming uneasy ana
suspicious spread an alarm which soon became gen
cral. Under ordinary circumstances nothing had
occurred to occasion any particular apprehension;
but the circumstances were not ordinary. The
concern had never beea strong. Ii was an lncorpor
ated company, depending upon assessments LEVIED In
the usual way. Many OF the stockholders we're poor
Even the directors were not rich The incorporation
had been formed during period OF excitement when
ever, body owned millions OF stock, which they I'M
poyerished themselves to carry There had been the
usual quarrcls law suits, and inunctiOns-one direct
or restraining another from collecting assessments,
stc Some OF the managers drafts had been allowed
TO 20 ID protest during an exceptional crisis. ana
Though they had Decn eoAe VI
thing is not forgotten. All other mining under
takings in the vicinity public and private had proven
failures, while our success had not as yet oeeh
sufficiently established FOL the community at the mne
10 feel secure What ii the new machinery should
never arrisel they asked Ms position was very
grave one had invested my little all In the prop
erty Many of my friends we're largely interested
10 fail-success being already within our reachwas
worse than failure. Better to lay ones bones there
ana have done with it.
On tho third of JULY have reason to remember
the day-my anxiety became insupportable. SO
resolved to pay of all hands and start for San Fran
CISCO to ascertain what had become OF my freight
An communication with California cut OF, owing
to the seizure OF the mail steamer. No vessel had
since touched at tho peninsula ports 1t was neces
eary tor to take coasting vessel from La Paz 10
Mazatlan and :hcn get the Pacific Mail steamer bound
up
The men, being all paid of, we're prepared for
Notification on the Fourth, the Americans especially
The Mexcans,were nothing oath, but seemed glad OF
the excitement. On the morning OF that day. our
chief contractor q Mexican, came to me- and asked
for an advance OF 900 to carry the work during
nv absence replied that did not want the work
carried on-that l wished it suspended. had taken
the precaution to pay him and everybody else in full
and hoped there would be dissatisfaction since in
all probability there would be delay OF only lew
weeks at furthest. But Don REQUISITE was tenacious ;
he knew what he wanted, and wanted 1t very much
81 must have it, he said. 10 necessto lit is a
necessity TO ne.
p 81 regret very much Don Robusto," l replied
that under the circumstances in which am placed.
cannot mako you the advance. You know how will
ing always am to try to facilitate your views On
this occasion 1t is impossible"
81 am compromised" no said, at, my assistants
and m0zos. They will modest me beyond endurance
Still. have paid you in full, Don Robusto"
replied, aud you have, ought to have, the means
OF paying them"
al cannot dismiss them," he replied g cannot get
nd of them as you get rid OF me-
knew what he said was true enough, and that
whether entitled not to advance, it in the
highest degree polite to safety him. Had felt that
nv people would sustain me, he should have bad it.
But had every reason to apprehend they would
NOT 90 must not be governed by my judgment in the
emergency, but follow tho strctest Interpretation OF